Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

Though its ceiling is apparently early on, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an enjoyable speedrun game, just make sure to change up the default controls!

83%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

optimization, replayability

92% User Score Based on 225 reviews

Critic Score 59%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.04

Buy NowGet on Steam $19.99

About

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a single player casual platformer game with a anime theme. It was developed by Talpa Games and was released on July 27, 2023. It received neutral reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Join Koa and her best friend Napopo on an action-packed adventure through the islands of Mara! Outwit traps, manoeuvre dangerous environments, and explore a series of dazzlingly different landscapes on their quest to recover stolen pirate loot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara screenshot

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 225 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Charming, colorful, and cute art style with lively animations and a cheerful soundtrack that enhances the cozy atmosphere.
Accessible and enjoyable 3D platformer with tight, responsive controls and well-designed levels that support both casual play and speedrunning.
Offers a good balance of exploration, collectibles, and time trial challenges, providing replayability without excessive difficulty.

Limited move set and somewhat repetitive gameplay which may feel simplistic for experienced platformer players.
Fixed camera angles and occasional control quirks can lead to frustrating moments, especially in fast-paced or precision sections.
Story and dialogue are lightweight and sometimes considered uninspiring or overly chatty, which can disrupt pacing or immersion.

gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The gameplay is a simple yet enjoyable blend of classic 3D platforming with a fast-roll and long-jump mechanic, offering smooth, responsive controls and varied level designs across diverse biomes. While not particularly deep or innovative, it strikes a good balance of accessibility and charm, appealing especially to fans of laid-back exploration and speedrunning. Some minor issues like repetitive mechanics, occasional control interruptions, and lack of multiplayer modes are noted but do not significantly detract from the overall fun and engaging experience.
- “Fun for any age and a strong mix of classic fun and engaging mechanics.”
- “Once you master the rolling mechanic (which shouldn't take long) it's fun to see how quick you can get through levels.”
- “Each different island is categorized by a different biome such as a volcano, icy glacier, underwater, etc. Each will have different levels leading up to a small boss fight. The game also introduces new gameplay to keep things interesting and maintains the pacing well.”
- “Game mechanics are sloppy and annoying during fast portions.”
- “Levels, while visually distinct, tend to rely on similar platforming structures, and the mechanics do not evolve significantly as the game progresses.”
- “The developers did try to vary levels a little, as there are some 2D sections, some autoscroll levels where you're chased or there's rising lava or where you have to dash, and there's some swimming and diving levels, but I think the game lacks the mechanical depth needed to keep things interesting.”
story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The story in this game is generally light, straightforward, and secondary to gameplay, with a simple plot centered on reclaiming a stolen town. While some players find it charming and cohesive with likable characters and visual storytelling, others view it as predictable, minimalistic, or underdeveloped. Overall, it suits a casual, stress-free experience but lacks depth or complexity for players seeking a rich narrative.
- “The inclusion of a hub city that grows and changes as the story progresses adds a light layer of progression, helping players feel a tangible sense of impact as they reclaim treasures and restore life to Qälis.”
- “The characters you meet along your travels are all unique in their personalities and art, and the overall storyline you follow not only flows well but makes sense with the world around you.”
- “For a level-based game such as Koa, it’s hard to deliver the story through much more than cutscenes and text lines from NPCs, and that is how most of the story is received, but it was far more polished and playful than most titles.”
- “The story doesn't make a lot of sense so don't worry about it.”
- “When you strip away the cute trappings, Koa is essentially taking part in a rigged race and scavenger-hunt game put together by the local bully kids to get the town's belongings back (a town full of adults who, by the way, could probably retrieve or replace their own things given half a chance - the same glaring plot hole that plagues Innchanted, another title drawing on real-life Pacific lore).”
- “There are no story events when you return home after collecting a map piece, and no one really changes what they have to say, so the developers haven't created the sense of community they intended.”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The game's graphics feature a bright, colorful, and cute art style that is consistently praised for its charm, smooth animations, and vibrant environments reminiscent of classic platformers like Mario and Wind Waker. While some note minor inconsistencies across character portraits and models or feel the visuals are somewhat repetitive compared to the developer's previous titles, overall, the graphics enhance the relaxing, playful atmosphere and appeal to a wide audience of all ages.
- “The game’s art style bursts with personality, featuring bright colors, soft edges, and detailed environments that bring the world of Mara to life.”
- “The bright, colorful visuals and excellent sound design along with the fun level design really create just a wonderful experience.”
- “Visuals are cute and vibrant and succeed in being rather eye catching.”
- “I also noticed a real inconsistency in the art style between the 3D models, the character portraits, the trailer, and the title screen.”
- “The graphics don't quite match up to the previous game, which was my cozy escape on tough days.”
- “Unfortunately, as stated above, these visuals are beginning to lose their radiance to me as everything is replicated from the developer’s previous games.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
27%
10%
The music is generally praised for its cheerful, calming, and catchy tunes that enhance the game's positive and charming atmosphere without being intrusive. While not always memorable or standout, the soundtrack fits well with the visuals and gameplay, often evoking a nostalgic, joyful vibe reminiscent of classic Nintendo or Studio Ghibli influences. Overall, the music is considered a strong, enjoyable complement to the game’s aesthetic and experience.
- “The soundtrack complements this with cheerful, calming tunes that reinforce the sense of adventure and wonder without ever becoming intrusive.”
- “Adrian Berenguer has composed a joyous, energetic soundtrack that gives Koa such a fresh vibe.”
- “It’s so fun and reminds me of all the old Nintendo soundtracks, so it sparked nostalgia that just feels good to the soul.”
- “Koa currently holds my makeshift award for 'game with the soundtrack that remained the loudest'.”
- “The plot is very light (honestly I was skimming most of the dialog, but was still able to follow) and the music is not really anything special (I started just listening to Spotify while playing after world 3), but for what it was, I enjoyed myself.”
- “The music is unfortunately forgettable, at worst failing to match the vibe of what Koa's doing.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional tone of the game is consistently described as wholesome, cheerful, and nostalgic, offering a lighthearted, family-friendly experience reminiscent of classic platformers. While some players skipped dialogue, most appreciated the game's vibe as a relaxing, easygoing escape with charming visuals and a playful soundtrack. It’s well-suited for casual play and appeals especially to those seeking a heartwarming, accessible platformer.
- “A wonderfully wholesome story with great gameplay akin to the classic platformers of the 2000's with great controls!”
- “I play a ton of games and enjoy them, but sometimes, it's nice to just have something that's not too long, not too hard and just wholesome throughout.”
- “So if you're in the mood for something wholesome, this will no doubt do your gamer's heart good, if only for a short while.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game generally offers smooth and stable performance, notably running at a consistent 60 FPS on the Steam Deck without issues. However, some PC users experience unexpectedly poor performance despite modest visual demands, indicating a need for optimization patches. Overall, console and handheld experiences are praised for their reliability.
- “Koa plays well across the board; I played it on my Steam Deck and was overall really satisfied with the smooth 60 fps performance.”
- “Touching on the visuals & audio, we’re happy to report we didn’t run into any performance issues during our playthrough and for that we’re glad, because we got to fully enjoy the vibrantly fun graphics and playful soundtrack.”
- “Also, I played it entirely on Deck and had zero performance or crashing issues, so this is a must-have.”
- “Performance on my PC was much worse than ought to be expected for a game that looks like it ought to be able to easily run on my phone.”
- “I hope the devs intend to bring several performance patches to the game so that others will have a smoother experience than I did at launch.”
- “I admit I suck, but I’m not the only one to be blamed for such a poor performance.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game offers high replayability, appealing especially to speedrunners and achievement hunters, with opportunities to revisit levels for faster times, collect hidden items, and unlock new areas featuring fun mini-games.
- “One of the last things I want to talk about in this section is the sheer amount of replayability Koa has.”
- “Replayability is quite high as well, since players can go back to previous rounds and try to go for the fastest run time, collect all hidden items found around the level, or unlock other areas around the map for fun mini-games.”
- “Replayability value: yes, for speedrunners and achievement hunters.”
- “-replayability”
- “[b]replayability value:[/b] yes, for speedrunners / achievement hunters.”
- “[th]content & replay value[/th]”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game’s atmosphere is praised for its lighthearted, cheerful, and wholesome vibe, enhanced by charming characters, visual storytelling, and music reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. It creates a relaxing and enjoyable experience, ideal for a quick, easy platforming session.
- “However, the game’s charm lies in its atmosphere, characters, and visual storytelling rather than elaborate plot twists.”
- “I love the music and the atmosphere in these games, which is clearly influenced by Studio Ghibli movies.”
- “If you're looking for a quick and easy platforming experience with a wholesome atmosphere, I highly recommend this game.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its cute and funny dialogue, charming characters, and amusing moments that add joy throughout the platforming experience. Players find the comedic elements contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
- “The dialogue's pretty funny.”
- “This 3D platformer is a roller coaster of joy; even if you're a speed-running snail like me, the game offers paths that you'll inevitably stumble upon in the most hilarious ways.”
- “The visuals are super cute, the characters are funny, and overall it feels like a great platformer.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly on Proton without any technical issues, bugs, glitches, or game-breaking problems. This flawless performance is notably commendable.
- “Runs great on Proton and didn't face any technical issues at all.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding is generally seen as a manageable part of the gameplay, often integrated within engaging farming and adventure activities that keep players interested, especially those who enjoy thematic or casual simulation games.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally criticize the character development, specifically noting that the character designs are unattractive and poorly executed.

Skip Critic Reviews

59%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

8h Median play time

7h Average play time

5-8h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

89%2.3kreviews

Lunistice

2022

Arcade Platformer

84%378reviews

Grapple Dog

2022

Arcade Platformer

81%646reviews

Demon Turf

2021

Platformer

93%300reviews

Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils

2022

Platformer

82%1.3kreviews

The Plucky Squire

2024

Action Adventure

More games like Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a casual platformer game with anime theme.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara was released on July 27, 2023.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara was developed by Talpa Games.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its optimization.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a single player game.

Similar games include Lunistice, Grapple Dog, Demon Turf, Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils, The Plucky Squire and others.

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

Platforms